Although grasses are fashionable in gardening circles at the moment, many of them really don’t perform very well. A notable exception is a gorgeous new blue coloured Australian native grass. It is called Mingo, which is claimed to be the aboriginal name for kangaroo grass.
Plant details
Common name: Mingo Grass
Botanic name: Themeda australis var. Mingo
Description: Tussock-forming Australian native grass with lush blue foliage, 75-100mm (3-4″) tall.
Best climate: Mingo grass will grow in most areas of Australia, including mountain zones below the snow line.
Best look:
groundcover mixed among rocks native garden
Good points:
pretty blue leaves low maintenance less spindly and thin than many other grasses sterile, so it won’t cause environmental problems
Downside:
not readily available as yet
Getting started:
Mingo may be hard to find – try your local native nursery or turf supplier. It is currently unavailable in the Northern Territory, but Abulk Pty Ltd will supply it mail order. Phone: (02) 4577 5912. Expect to pay $1.50 each for viro-tubes, and $7-$8 for a 150mm (6″) pot.
